Smoking Ban

A smoking ban the Newport Beach City Council approved last month goes into effect Thursday, according to a city news release. The ordinance prohibits smoking in city parks and extends a previous smoking ban to 100 feet inland of beaches. Smoking will continue to be prohibited on the boardwalk, but the ban will not apply to an individual smoking in an alleyway or inside a vehicle being driven on a public street, alley or parking lot, according to the release. — Jamie Rowe Twitter: @jamierowe3

NEWPORT BEACH — Smokers strolling in a city park may face a citation if the Newport Beach City Council approves a ban proposed at Tuesday's study session. By a 4-3 straw vote, the council members gave preliminary approval to banning smoking in public parks and open spaces. Already, smokers are barred from lighting up on beaches, piers and the boardwalk. Newport's action follows other cities' efforts to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. In February, New York approved a smoking ban in its parks.

NEWPORT BEACH — At its Tuesday meeting, the City Council considered banning smoking in public parks. Smoking is already prohibited on beaches, piers and the boardwalk. In April, the council voted 4-3 in a nonbinding straw poll to approve a smoking ban in parks. But during the meeting, Mayor Mike Henn suggested the city also ban smoking at the street ends leading up to the Balboa Peninsula boardwalk. Henn lives in a house on the boardwalk, two doors down from a street end. Councilman Keith Curry said this additional ban could be a "slippery slope.

COSTA MESA — The City Council gave preliminary approval this week to an ordinance that would ban smoking at all city parks. Going along with a Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation, the council in a 4-1 vote Tuesday night approved the first reading of an ordinance that prohibits smoking within 50 feet of Costa Mesa's parks, the city's three athletic fields, two community gardens and Balearic Community Center's children's area....

COSTA MESA — A ordinance that would ban smoking at city parks could be up for public discussion at an upcoming City Council meeting, the city attorney's office said Friday. The ordinance would bar smoking within 50 feet of the city's 29 parks, said Elena Gerli of the Jones & Mayer law firm, which acts as the city attorney's office. The proposal comes on the heels of a similar ban that's working its way through Newport Beach's City Council. Newport Beach began considering the ban in April.

The Newport Beach City Council at its Tuesday meeting plans to vote on banning smoking in parks. The ban would expand current restrictions, which prohibit puffing on beaches and boardwalks. In July, the council nearly approved a ban, but Councilman Mike Henn suggested that the law include the street ends leading up to the Balboa Peninsula boardwalk. The new changes would prohibit smoking in or within 100 feet of park or beach while on public property. The council may also bar private instruction — activities such as batting practice, yoga and personal training — in parks and on beaches.

Those who can remember smoking sections in restaurants should know where to stake out turf in Newport Beach parks. That's if the city approves newly proposed smoking restrictions that would ban smoking in parks and open spaces. Already, smokers are barred from lighting up on beaches, piers and the boardwalk. The proposed regulations come as the city also is considering banning noisy leaf blowers and while cities across the U.S. pass broader smoking regulations. Smokers, whose habit has long been considered harmful to others' health, continue to be targets for broader government restrictions.

The city of Newport Beach will address a number of contentious issues next week, ranging from a new law regulating parties to choosing the city's auditor, which is presently the same auditor that worked in Bell. On the City Council's plate: The "loud and unruly gathering ordinance" would allow officers to issue citations to people who organize a party that gets out of hand, and to partygoers who violate its guidelines. Penalties are up to $500 for the first violation, and up to $8,000 for the fourth violation, if it takes place within six months of the first.

Alicia Robinson The city's Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission is likely to adopt a beach smoking ban as soon as Aug. 3 and pass it on to the City Council for approval, officials said Wednesday. The commission discussed a possible smoking ban Tuesday after Councilman John Heffernan in April asked staff members to look into the issue. Coastal cities including Malibu, San Clemente and Santa Monica have already banned smoking on city beaches and the Huntington Beach City Council approved a ban Tuesday night.

A smoking ban the Newport Beach City Council approved last month goes into effect Thursday, according to a city news release. The ordinance prohibits smoking in city parks and extends a previous smoking ban to 100 feet inland of beaches. Smoking will continue to be prohibited on the boardwalk, but the ban will not apply to an individual smoking in an alleyway or inside a vehicle being driven on a public street, alley or parking lot, according to the release. — Jamie Rowe Twitter: @jamierowe3

Seeking to control West Coast Highway's landscaping, the Newport Beach City Council voted Tuesday to keep trying to acquire the road from the state. It may take special legislation, city leaders said, to get enough state funds to compensate for the city's additional maintenance costs and liability. West Cost Highway's lush multimillion-dollar landscape plans could have to be scaled back if the city ends up working within the state's guidelines. A panel of citizens recently spent months drawing up the plans, and spent about $30,000 in consulting fees.

The Newport Beach City Council at its Tuesday meeting plans to vote on banning smoking in parks. The ban would expand current restrictions, which prohibit puffing on beaches and boardwalks. In July, the council nearly approved a ban, but Councilman Mike Henn suggested that the law include the street ends leading up to the Balboa Peninsula boardwalk. The new changes would prohibit smoking in or within 100 feet of park or beach while on public property. The council may also bar private instruction — activities such as batting practice, yoga and personal training — in parks and on beaches.

COSTA MESA — The City Council gave preliminary approval this week to an ordinance that would ban smoking at all city parks. Going along with a Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation, the council in a 4-1 vote Tuesday night approved the first reading of an ordinance that prohibits smoking within 50 feet of Costa Mesa's parks, the city's three athletic fields, two community gardens and Balearic Community Center's children's area....

COSTA MESA — A ordinance that would ban smoking at city parks could be up for public discussion at an upcoming City Council meeting, the city attorney's office said Friday. The ordinance would bar smoking within 50 feet of the city's 29 parks, said Elena Gerli of the Jones & Mayer law firm, which acts as the city attorney's office. The proposal comes on the heels of a similar ban that's working its way through Newport Beach's City Council. Newport Beach began considering the ban in April.

NEWPORT BEACH — At its Tuesday meeting, the City Council considered banning smoking in public parks. Smoking is already prohibited on beaches, piers and the boardwalk. In April, the council voted 4-3 in a nonbinding straw poll to approve a smoking ban in parks. But during the meeting, Mayor Mike Henn suggested the city also ban smoking at the street ends leading up to the Balboa Peninsula boardwalk. Henn lives in a house on the boardwalk, two doors down from a street end. Councilman Keith Curry said this additional ban could be a "slippery slope.

NEWPORT BEACH — Smokers strolling in a city park may face a citation if the Newport Beach City Council approves a ban proposed at Tuesday's study session. By a 4-3 straw vote, the council members gave preliminary approval to banning smoking in public parks and open spaces. Already, smokers are barred from lighting up on beaches, piers and the boardwalk. Newport's action follows other cities' efforts to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. In February, New York approved a smoking ban in its parks.

The city of Newport Beach will address a number of contentious issues next week, ranging from a new law regulating parties to choosing the city's auditor, which is presently the same auditor that worked in Bell. On the City Council's plate: The "loud and unruly gathering ordinance" would allow officers to issue citations to people who organize a party that gets out of hand, and to partygoers who violate its guidelines. Penalties are up to $500 for the first violation, and up to $8,000 for the fourth violation, if it takes place within six months of the first.

Those who can remember smoking sections in restaurants should know where to stake out turf in Newport Beach parks. That's if the city approves newly proposed smoking restrictions that would ban smoking in parks and open spaces. Already, smokers are barred from lighting up on beaches, piers and the boardwalk. The proposed regulations come as the city also is considering banning noisy leaf blowers and while cities across the U.S. pass broader smoking regulations. Smokers, whose habit has long been considered harmful to others' health, continue to be targets for broader government restrictions.

A set of Corona del Mar triplets who are frequently seen about town in matching outfits with matching long blonde hair are the stars of a runaway hit "Swagger Wagon" series of advertisements. Sienna, Jaden and Tegan Brown, 4 1/2 years old, star in the Toyota spots that have gone viral with more than 5 million views on one YouTube clip. That clip features a suburban family of four, the parents rapping about parenthood and the joys of owning the Sienna minivan. The music video is a black-and-white clip that's a cross between Flight of the Conchord's "Hiphop-Potamus" and the television hit show "Modern Family.